Proportioning controller



c. G. 'FiiCHAHDSQN 5*; AL. 2,090,0{59

PEOPQRTIONING CONTROLLER Filed J5me 2, 1954 E3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENVENTORS Thanks G, Emmi aw Jff C ri ydgrz, AZ

Aug. 17, 1937.

c. G. RICHARDSON ET AL PROPORTIONING CONTROLLER Filed June 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W I I W \1 Q EN 0. i @fik QS @NH 0 nmw Va.

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INVENTORS Charles G. Ar'c/mrdson Jeff C'orydo Patented Aug. 17, 1937 2,090,069 raoronrromc CONTROLLER Charles G. Richardson and Jet! Corydon, Providence, R. I., assignors to Builders Iron Foundry, Providence, R. L, a corporation of Rhode Island Application June 2, 1934, Serial No. 728,854 Claims. (Cl. 137-165) Our invention relates generally to proportioning apparatus and more particularly to controllers which operate under the governing action of a variable master quantity of liquid flowing in a main conduit to control a dependent quantity of a material such as a reagent in proportion to the flow in the main conduit.

Another object of the invention isto provide apparatus of this character which may, at a reasonable cost, be incorporated in a relatively large master conduit.

Another object is to provide such apparatus constructed and arranged so as to be adaptable to a great variety of operating conditions.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this character wherein adifferential pressure producer in the main conduit controls and varies the output or stroke length of a constant rate reciprocating reagent pump so as to maintain a predetermined proportion between the pump output and'the flow in the conduit.

Otherobjects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view taken'partially in section and illustrating diagrammatically an embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of different reagents are proportioned in accordance with the master flow in the main conduit.

Fig. 2 is asimilar view illustrating the proportioning of but a single reagentor substance,'the apparatus embodying automatic compensating neans whereby major variations in flow rate are 'endered immaterial'so far as accuracy of proiortioningis concerned. I

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the nvention wherein accuracy or proportioning isj ireserved over a wide variation in the rate oi. low.

While we have shown in the accompanying rawings and will herein describe in detail the referred embodiment of the invention, together ith two alternative embodiments thereof, it is a be understood that this disclosure is given for me purpose of illustrating the invention and is ot intended as a limitation of the invention to re constructions disclosed. In the appended aims, we aim to cover all modifications and [ternative constructions falling within the scope the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of the rawings, a controller in operating in accordice with the variable flow of a master fluid in main conduit il serves through periodic actucylinders 23, while branches 44' and 44" ation of a valve means i2 to govern the stroking of apair of pressure fluid actuated reagent pumps I3 and I4, whereby actuation of the pumps takes place at a rate which bears a predetermined constant proportion to the variable flow rate of 5 the master fluid.

By means of the two pumps, two difl'erent liquid reagents A and B are pumped from individual supply tanks i5 and it, each reagent being pumped in the desired ratio to the master l0 flow. The present embodiment provides for injection of both reagents into the conduit H through a discharge pipe I'lconnected to both pumps. 7

The pumps l3 and I Q are preferably duplicates of each other and are embodied in similar inj ection units and 2| each of which includes a reciprocating pressure fluid operated actuator for its pump. Each unit comprises a-base 22 havingalined motor. and pump cylindersv 23 and 20 24 located in axially spaced relation thereon. Pump and-motor pistons 25 and 26, slidable in their respective cylinders, are connected by a piston rod 21. Across the space between the motor and pump cylinders-a scale 23 extends parallel 5 to the piston rod 21, and a stop device 23 moun ed on the scale v28 extends downwardly into the path of the outer end of the pump piston so as to limit the outward or suction stroke thereof.

The stop device 29 is slidable on the scale 23 and may be secured in any desired position of adjustment by means of a thumb screw 30. Thus ad- Justability of output is provided for each of the pumps I3 and.

An intake pipe 3| extending from the tank I to the pump l3 serves to supply reagent A thereto, while a pipe 32 from the tank It supplies reagent B to the pump it. From the discharge sides of the pumps l3 and I4, lines 33 and 34 extend to the common discharge pipe l1, con- 4o ventional check valves 35 and 33 being provided in the'intake and exhaust sides of each of the pumps.

The valve means l2 which is actuated by the cylinder 4| and governing the'flcw of pressure fluid to and from both of the motor cylinders 23.

The pressure fluid may, if desired, be taken from the main conduit II, a valved supply line 42 being provided for this purpose. From the valve cylinder 4i branched conduits 43 and 44 extend. the conduit 43 having branches 43 and 43" connected to corresponding ends oi the two motor of the reciprocation of the valve member. 49, the pres-- conduit 44 are connected to the other ends of the two motor cylinders.

Exhaust lines 45 extend from the valve cylinder 4I adjacent the ends thereof, and in the 5 a proportional but relatively small fiow of the a metering bypass 5I-,- this being measured by a master fluid through proportional by-pass flow conventional meter 52 in the by-pass, and an operating connection being provided between the i 20 meter and the valve member 49. In the present 40 gear" box 56 instance the differential producer 59 is in the form of a venturi, and the by-pass 5I is connected to the throat 53 and adjacent to the outlet end 54 of the venturi. A manometer 55 may be similarly 5 connected between theinletend 55 and the throat 58' of the venturi.

Upon the'top of the meter 52 a gear box 56 is 'mounted, and a stub shaft 51 extending downwardly from within the gear box is connected to 0 the upwardly projecting end of themeter shaft 52' forv actuation thereby. Within the box 56 a pinion 58 is 'removably fixed on the shaft 51 inv mesh with a gear formed on a cam sleeve 59, which sleeve 'is'rotatably mounted on a vertical stud 69. On the upper end of the cam sleeve 59 an eccentric cam 61I is provided to engage and actuate a cam roller 62 which is carried by the end of the valve member 4| is, in the present instance, carried by the V exteriorly thereof? andlthe valve member extends through the side of the gear box toward the cam 6|. A spring 68 acting between the boxTan'd-the valve member urges the roller lnto engag'ement'with the cam. o

In the by-pass 5| at opposite sides of the meter 52, valves 65 and 66 are positioned for use in conjunction with the manometer 55 in determining the proportion of the main fiuid which is to pass thro 'h the meter 52. For any par- 0 ticular adjustment of the valves 65 and 66 the by-pass flow remains substantially proportional to the main flowover asubstantial range of variation of the main flow. In most installations this range is sufficientto meet ordinary operat- 5 ing variations, and hence readjustment of the valves 65 and 66 is required only when major and unusual changes in operation occur.

Thus the operator may adjust the valves 65 and 66 until the rate of reciprocation of the valve 0 49 bears the desired-relation to the rate of main fiow as indicated by the manometer 55, and this ratio of valve operation to main flow is maintained so long as the main fiow rate remains .within a reasonable range on either side of 5 the rate at the time of valve adjustmentf The quantities of the reagents Av and B injected duringeachpump stroke may, of course, be varied by adjustment of the stops 29, which adjustment may also be used to vary the propor- 0 tion of the reagents with respect to each other.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the invention is so constructed that accuracy of proportioning is maintained over a wide range of variation in the main flow in conduit II. This em- 75 bodiment employs a reagent injection unit 19 I9 of the embodiment of Fig. 1

flow rate in the conduit II' constantratio between themainfiow and the meter flow even though there is a wide variation in the main flow rate. for varying the size of effective exhaust outlet in the control valve 89.

with the flow.

49. The valve cylinder responsive means such 96 withthe upper arm 29 and 2| of Fig. 1 and C from tank 1I through a of the injection units serves to draw reagent line 12 and to inject through line 13. actuating meter I6 are provided as in Fig. 1, similar pressure inlet and exhaust connections beingxemployed.

The meter 15, however, has pipe'11 connected to the conduit I I' below a ven-' turi 18 in the conduit, and the exhaust from the meter is' ultimately passed to a drain 19 rather than returned to the conduit as in Fig. 1.

Such -exhaust from the meter 15, is, however, controlled automatically in accordance with the so as to maintain a To this end means is provided accordance with the main'fiow rate. This means is associated with the venturi 18 and comprises a' variable orifice valve device 89 having a casing I 8I'providing a valve orifice 82, and a tapered valve member 83 mounted in the casing 8I' 'for longitudinal shifting vary the effective area of the venturi 18.

- The valve casing 8| s'ide of'the meter 15-by pipes 85 and 86 and an intermediate constant pressure valve 81 which the same into conduit II. A valve mechanism 14, an

.and a valve operating cam is connected to theexhaust' its valved supply movement in the orifice to thereof under the control maintains a uniform pressurein the valve casing 8| and thereby insures uniform operation of valve casing 8| is conducted to the drain 19 by p p as a diaphragm 89 is employed. This diaphragm isenclosed by a casing 99, and valved pipes 9I and 92 connected to the casing on opposite sides of the diaphragm are throat 94 of the venturi 18/ Fixed to the diaphragm 89 is a slide rod 95 which extends from the casing perpendicular to the diaphragm. At its outer end the rod 95 has a pivotal connection 98 of a bell crank, the bell crank being centrally pivoted in a frame 99 and having its other arm I99 normally held in a downwardly projecting position by a weight I9I carried at its lower end. A collar I92 which is adjustable longitudinally along the arm I99; may be fixed in position on the arm I99 by a thumb" 'The exhaust from the- 88.- To actuate the control valve 89 in accordance v rate in the conduit II, a pressure I connected respectivelyto the inlet end 98 and I outer end of the valve member 83 carries a head I95 which is slidable in a guideway'l96 and is pivotally connected to the other end of -the link I94.

Adjacent the lower end of the arm I99 a scale I98-may be mounted to measure the displacement of the arm the flow rate.

When there isfno weighted arm as in Fig. 2, andithevalve member 83 is drawn to the left to produce the smallest effective area in the valve orifice 82 When a flow starts, a differential pressure is created which, tends to I99 and thereby indicate flow in the conduit II' the I99 assumes its vertical position,

raise tlieweighted arm I99 and thereby increase the effective opening of the valve orifice 82. The pressure differential, of course, increasesin a predetermined relation to the flow rate in con- 7:

2,090,G@9 duit H as to gradually increase the efiective area of 'valve orifice Bland thereby maintain a by-pass flow through the meter which at all times bears'a predetermined ratio to the main flow. p

The particular form or taper of the valve member 82 is such as to compensate the angular motion of the levers 98 and 00 in producing the required size of orifice 82 for the various rates rate and a constant proportion of injection is maintained by varying the stroke lengthof the pump in accordance with flow variations in the main conduit II". The pump H0, its intake and injection lines Ill and H2, its pressure fluid pressure motor H3, valve I I4 and the associated pressure fluid connection, and valve operating cam l l5 and gearing I I6 are in all .substantial respects similar to the corresponding elements in Figs. 1 and 2, the major differences lying in the means for actuating the valve gearing H6 and for limiting the strokeof the pump piston H0.

constant speed driver such as an electric motor H1 is operatively connected to the projecting stub shaft of the valve gearing.

As to the stroke limiting means it will be noted that anarm H8 fixed to the outer end of the pump piston H0 projects downwardly so that in the suction stroke of the piston a cam roller H9 carried by the arm I I 8 will strike an abutment surface I formed by a shiftable cam iii. The cam l2l isin the present instance adapted for rotative shifting movement and is therefore mounted on a horizontal shaft H22 journaled in the frame I23 of the injection unit.

Rotation is imparted to the camshaft i222 automatically in accordance with the fiow rate in the main conduit, such action being obtained through the medium of a shiftable diaphragm l25 governed by a differential producer 52$ located in the conduit and operatively connected to the cam shaft I22.v

The difierential producer H6 is preferably in the form of a venturi with valved pressure lines 42? and IE8 extending from the inlet end 820 and throat l thereof to opposite sides of the diaphragm l25.- A stationary casing l3l supports and encloses the diaphragm I25 and it is to this casing that the lines I21 and I28 are connected. Centrally of the diaphragm a slidable control rod I32 is connected, and one end of the rod I32 extends through one side of the casing for operative connection with the cam shaft E22. To effect such connection a bell crank I33, pivotally supported on a horizontal axis, has one arm I34 pivotally connected to the control rod Hi2, while its other arm I35 normally extends downwardly and is biased to such position by a weight I 36 carried thereon. As the pressure difierential on the diaphragm increases, the weighted arm l35 is pivoted upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction from its normally vertical position, and such movement is preferably transmitted to the cam shaft I22 by a flexible cord l3? which extends horizontally from the eccentricconnection on the arm I 35, about a stationary pulley 1138, and

upwardly over a pulley J39 fixed I22. A weight 100 on the depending end offthef' I cord beneath the pulley i39 maintains tension v on the cord and insures transmission of jthe.

motion from the diaphragmto the cam.

The embodiment of 3,,alth0ugh simpleiir i' construction, isparticularly adaptable forinst'al-f.

lations wherein large variations occur in the main flow, it being noted that the cam surface i20 maybe formed to compensate] not only for variations introduced by the pivotal motion of the lever l35,.- but also for variations in theratio between the static. pressure differential and the rate of flow. i

We claim as our invention:

1. In a proportioning system the combination or a main conduit through which a master fluid may flow under pressure. a relatively small branch line for takingfiuid from said conduit,

flow responsive means connected to said line and I operable to meter the flow of fluid therethrough, t

on the cam shaft i a discharge line for said flow responsive means,

a variable-orifice control valve in said discharge line, a constant pressure valve in said discharge,

line between said control valve and saidmeter, a diiierential producer in said conduit, a shiftable differential pressure responsive device connected to and'controlled by said differential producer,

said device being connectedto said control valve to vary the effective area of the orifice thereof, To actuate the valve H4 at a constant rate, a

connected to said conduit to receive fiuidjrom said conduit in a relatively small proportion to the quantity of major fluid flow, a substancefeeding means controlled by said meter to feed said substance at a rate varying in direct pro--. portion to the variation in the rate of meter termined ratio between the major flow and the actuation, and means for. maintaining a made-- flow through said meter comprising an adjustable constant pressure valve in the outlet of said meter, a variable orifice control valve in said outlet beyond said constant pressure valve, a differential producer in said conduit, and pressure responsive means controlled ,by said diflerential producer and operable to shift said control valve.

3. A proportioning system comprising in combination, a main conduit through which a major fluid may fiow under pressure, a meter having its inlet connected to said conduit to receive fluid from said conduit in a relatively small proportion to the quantity of. major fluid flow, a substancefeeding means governed by said meter for feeding such a substance at a rate varying in direct proportion to the variation in the rate 01 meter actuation, means for adjusting said proportion of the feedrate to the meter rate, and means for maintaining a predetermined ratio between the major flow and the flow through said meter comprising a constant pressure valve in the outlet of said meter, a variable orifice control valve in said outlet beyond said constant pressure valve, a differential producer in said conduit, and pressure responsive means controlled by said differential producer and having an adjustable connection with said control valve through which it is operable to shift said control valve.

4. In a proportioning system. the combination of a main conduit through which. a main fluid may flow under pressure, a reagent injector discharging into said conduit, means for actuating said injector at a constant rate of speed, a difierential producer in said conduit, means connected to said producer and having a part shiftable in response to diflerential pressure variations in said producer, and means connected to and shiftable with said part operable in such shifting movement to vary the output 01 said injector in proportion-to the flow rate of said main fluid.

. 5. In a proportioning system thecombination of a main'conduit through which a main fluid may flow under'pressure, a reciprocable reagent pump connected to inject reagent into said con 1 duit, a pressure fluid actuator for reciprocating said pump, a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust oi motivating fluid to and from said actuator, means actuating said valve at a constant rate, a diflerential producer in said conduit, a

differential pressure responsive device connected to said producer and having a shiitable element movable in accordance with variations of the pressure differential in said producer, shiftablestop means for limiting the stroke of said pump, and means connecting said shiitable element and said shiitable stop operable to vary said pump stroke in proportion to variations in the flow rate of said main fluid.

of a main conduit through which a main fluid may flow under pressure, a reciprocable reagent pump connected to inject reagent into said conduit, a pressure fluid actuator for reciprocating said pump, a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust oi motivating fluid to and from said actuator, means actuating said valve at a constant rate, a difler'ential producer ins'aid conduit, a

differential pressure responsive device connected 4 to said producer and having a shiftable element movable in accordance with variations of the pressure differential in said producer, a shiftable cam acting in its shifting movement as a variable stop to limit the stroke of said pump in 45 one direction, and means actuated by said shiftable element to shift said cam and vary the pump stroke in proportion to the main flow rate in said conduit. i

7. In a proportioning system a main conduit 6. In a proportioning system the combinationthrough which a main fluid may flow under pres sure, an injector discharging into said conduit and operated-at aconstant rate. of speed, means for varying the output of said injector while it a substance, means. actuating said feeding device at a constantrateoi speed, means operable to vary the feed-rate of said device'while its constantjrate .of actuation is maintained, means measuring the flow-in said conduit and operating said feed-rate varying means to. maintain a constant relation between said'feed-rate and the flow rate in said main conduit,

the combination of a conduit for conveying a master fluid, means in said conduit for producing a diflerential pres- .Ierential pressure producing means and-said reagent injecting means and operable by said pressure difference to control the mean rate of reagent injection in. a predetermined proportion to the rate oi. said master fluid flow through said conduit. v q 10. The combination of a conduit for conveying a master fluid, a-lineattached'to said conduit,

. means attached to said conduit and line for producing a flow from said conduit through said line proportional to'the main flow in said conduit, flow responsive means in said line having a portion movable corresponding with said flow therethrough, reagent injecting means, and governing means for said injecting means actuatable by said movable part to cause said injecting means to ieed'reagent into said conduit in a predetermined ratio to the flow of said master fluid through said conduit.

CHARLESG. RICHARDSON.

- JEFF CORYDON.

. 20 9. In a proportioning system the combination I 

